EDITOR'S NOTE: An earlier version of this story said Compass' funding came from the "Continuum of Care" program through HUD. While that funding is also being reviewed at the federal level, Compass funding does not come from that resource .
Affordable housing operators in the Mahoning Valley are worried they could lose funding because of changes in the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
HUD officials are looking at how they disperse funds including the hundreds of thousands of dollars to the Mahoning Valley’s family and community service organization, Compass.
48 people with mental illnesses or addictions as a disability live in rent reduced apartments through the funds that Compass gets. If it gets taken away, the organization would not be able to help the residents.
“We are concerned because there is so much unknown," Joseph Caruso, the President & CEO of Compass said. “It would be devastating… it’s not something that we could continue to operate.”
Compass has been providing affordable housing in the valley for more than 30 years. Caruso said they have not gotten any official word that they will lose funding.
Compass' current housing contracts provide funding until the end of 2025. Officials feel they are safe until then but don't know what will happen after that.
“I really don't know how they can cut this affordable housing because we already don't have enough affordable housing in our community now…it would make a large population homeless,” Caruso said.